Wednesday, December 31, 2008
The New Year
Steve Earle brought us over the line with "Someday." Then his buddies, the Supersuckers, gave us our first complete song of the New Year: "I Want the Drugs." Not sure what that means.
The mix is good. Lou Reed now.
There's a beverage here, man.
I hope you have a beverage, too.
Happy Fuckin' New Year!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
This feels good
I like this sentence:
Democrat Kay Hagan has taken the Senate seat that once belonged to the loathsome and not-at-all missed Jesse Helms (and that then belonged to the loathsome and not-at-all-to-be missed Elizabeth Dole).
I like this sentence, too:
There will not be a Bush or a Dole holding a national government office for the first time in 52 years.
Democrat Kay Hagan has taken the Senate seat that once belonged to the loathsome and not-at-all missed Jesse Helms (and that then belonged to the loathsome and not-at-all-to-be missed Elizabeth Dole).
I like this sentence, too:
There will not be a Bush or a Dole holding a national government office for the first time in 52 years.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Karl Hungus
That's right. We got cable. Solely for the purpose of watching the Daily Show, the Colbert Report, MSNBC, and election night coverage. It was waiting for us when we got home tonight (along with the vomit and hair balls that Frankie left on the comforter, I suppose as retribution for being locked up all day so Karl could fix the cable [Don't be fatuous, Jeffrey.]).
I already regret it. We have more than 150 channels (I'm guessing; the channel numbers seem to go on forever) just so we can see the Daily Show the night it broadcasts. This was very stupid.
I'm going to guess that close to 10 percent of the channels are home shopping programming, which is shocking to me because I thought everything was purchased online these days.
Anyway, as I'm sure you've guessed, we watched some of CNN's lineup tonight. It reminded me of what an empty feeling watching all-news networks is, and CNN is the epitome of this. We flipped to Matthews, then caught Olberman, and finally Maddow. Matthews bugs the shit out of me. Olberman and Maddow are entertaining satirists or humorists (whatever you prefer). Neither strike me as hateful or negative, but rather as mocking the absurdity of politics with easy irony. Which is what I think will become very boring and predictable after a while.
I also ventured--very briefly--to Fox News, where I find the detestable Sean Hannity and Anne Coulter being [see aforementioned adjective]. If Rush Limbaugh is the Jackie Treehorn of rightwing commentary, Sean Hannity is Karl Hungus: standards have fallen, the plot is preposterous, he threatens castration. (Not sure about his ethos...)
And is that really the same Pat Caddel I read about in Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail: 1972? The guy that ran McGovern's campaign? Oh dear...
It wasn't all bad, though. The Daily Show and Colbert Report were great. And we got to see Wilco. I didn't know Colbert did musical guests. Angela says Jeff Tweedy looks like Harvey Keitel.
P.S. The old rabbit ears are still on top of the television, where they shall serve as Receiver Emeritus (or should that be "Receivers Emeriti").
Monday, October 27, 2008
Of Palin, Fruit Flies, and Autism
You really need to watch this video, a response to Palin's monstrously stupid remarks about fruit fly research.
Now, you may oppose the government spending tax revenue on scientific research projects because you generally oppose government spending. I think that position is wrong, but it is not bat-shit insane like Palin's. (Well, it is almost, but, I digress.)
That is not, though, what Palin is arguing. She is arguing, simultaneously, the following:
This is part of one of the most disgusting parts of the McCain-Palin candidacy: watching them argue for an across-the-board spending freeze while simltaneously arguing for more programs and spending. And they do this because they have no intention whatsoever of implementing an across the board spending freeze--or McCain's hatchet, or whatever absurd metaphor he chooses tomorrow--because such a "policy" would cause an enormous amount of harm to everyone in this country, but especially to the people who need the most help. As campaign bluster goes, it sounds good and plays very well to the meathead, knuckle-dragging contingent that seem to pack the GOP standard bearers' rallies these days, but as a matter of public policy, these sorts of ideas court disaster and the people saying this shit know it and don't care how cynical their public pronouncements are. And if that does not tell you enough about who to vote for...
Additional reading:
Christopher Hitchens
PZ Myers
P.S. If you care about science education, visit the Texas Freedom Network and take a quick peek at what the State Board of Education is trying to do to our school system.
Now, you may oppose the government spending tax revenue on scientific research projects because you generally oppose government spending. I think that position is wrong, but it is not bat-shit insane like Palin's. (Well, it is almost, but, I digress.)
That is not, though, what Palin is arguing. She is arguing, simultaneously, the following:
- Fund more autism and special needs programs and research (guess what, programs don't do shit without research to back them up)
- Strip public funds from scientific projects researching questions such as what is autism and how can we help those with it
This is part of one of the most disgusting parts of the McCain-Palin candidacy: watching them argue for an across-the-board spending freeze while simltaneously arguing for more programs and spending. And they do this because they have no intention whatsoever of implementing an across the board spending freeze--or McCain's hatchet, or whatever absurd metaphor he chooses tomorrow--because such a "policy" would cause an enormous amount of harm to everyone in this country, but especially to the people who need the most help. As campaign bluster goes, it sounds good and plays very well to the meathead, knuckle-dragging contingent that seem to pack the GOP standard bearers' rallies these days, but as a matter of public policy, these sorts of ideas court disaster and the people saying this shit know it and don't care how cynical their public pronouncements are. And if that does not tell you enough about who to vote for...
Additional reading:
Christopher Hitchens
PZ Myers
P.S. If you care about science education, visit the Texas Freedom Network and take a quick peek at what the State Board of Education is trying to do to our school system.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Ikeonography's NY Sun Op-Ed on Ike
Read it here. The headline should have been "Recovery We Can Believe In."
Buffalo Bayou Video
I biked into downtown yesterday and took some pictures and video. The video posted here is near University of Houston - Downtown just below Main Street on the Girard St. ramp to (what I think is) staff parking. In the ~4 years we've been here I've never seen Buffalo Bayou anything like this.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Status (Spaghetti Western Edition)
The good: We have electricity
The bad: We have very low water pressure
The ugly: We just ran out of coffee
Oh, and the downright mean: Rain
The bad: We have very low water pressure
The ugly: We just ran out of coffee
Oh, and the downright mean: Rain
Saturday, September 13, 2008
We Want the Money, Lebowski
Having stolen the Mega Millions, Ike reveals itself as a looter. Does the remaining Dollar sign mean Ike has converted to a better performing foreign currency?
(Actually, somebody took down the sign the day before Ike blew in.)
Blowing Off Some Steam
I'm not sure this is how I want to use this page, but the following pissed me off.
The Chronicle posted this editorial earlier. For the most part, it's fine. The last line though is a load of shit.
Echoing (well, not quite) Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, the Chronicle says "The Chronicle shares that hope. But that hope comes, too, with more than a touch of frustration and annoyance at the shocking self-absorption of people who thought nothing of putting their own lives and those of potential rescuers at risk to avoid the inconvenience of heading for safety."
That is, simply, snide. "Shocking self-absorption." That is a shameful thing to say and, if they have any decency, they will retract it.
Really, the Chronicle should know better, given the history. In 2004, nearly 100 percent of Galveston residents evacuated from Rita. And they found themselves trapped on highways for as much as 30 hours, in part because the State of Texas had, essentially, no plan for the evacuation of the Gulf Coast region. That is not a small point: sitting on a Gulf Coast Texas highway with nothing but Governor Good Hair assuring you that gas tanker trucks are on their way (and, for the record, they were not) in September with thousands of others is an extremely dangerous situation.
Add to that the following:
Galveston residents had no reason to expect better performance from the state compared to 2004 or a more predictable landfall.
I'm sure some people made irresponsible decisions in choosing to stay. But I'm also sure that 40 percent of Galveston did not make decisions based simply on "shocking self-absorption." That phrase really turns up my blood pressure.
Further, the Chronicle doesn't know why these Galveston residents stayed. Had they interviewed even one resident when they published their editorial (notice the byline, showing a publication date of 7:40 a.m. on September 13)? They certainly don't quote any, other than Mayor Thomas.
Finally, the title of the editorial asks a simple and just question: "Why did thousands stay in Galveston?" And without a shred of evidence they criticize 20,000 people as being "shockingly self-absorbed"?
My main point is that we can all reserve judgment until later, when the facts are in. Is that the way journalism is still done?
Correction: Rita was in 2005, not 2004. Sorry.
The Chronicle posted this editorial earlier. For the most part, it's fine. The last line though is a load of shit.
Echoing (well, not quite) Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, the Chronicle says "The Chronicle shares that hope. But that hope comes, too, with more than a touch of frustration and annoyance at the shocking self-absorption of people who thought nothing of putting their own lives and those of potential rescuers at risk to avoid the inconvenience of heading for safety."
That is, simply, snide. "Shocking self-absorption." That is a shameful thing to say and, if they have any decency, they will retract it.
Really, the Chronicle should know better, given the history. In 2004, nearly 100 percent of Galveston residents evacuated from Rita. And they found themselves trapped on highways for as much as 30 hours, in part because the State of Texas had, essentially, no plan for the evacuation of the Gulf Coast region. That is not a small point: sitting on a Gulf Coast Texas highway with nothing but Governor Good Hair assuring you that gas tanker trucks are on their way (and, for the record, they were not) in September with thousands of others is an extremely dangerous situation.
Add to that the following:
- Rita hit well east, over the Texas-Louisiana border, adding insult to the injury of the evacuation process
- Ike's unpredictability
Galveston residents had no reason to expect better performance from the state compared to 2004 or a more predictable landfall.
I'm sure some people made irresponsible decisions in choosing to stay. But I'm also sure that 40 percent of Galveston did not make decisions based simply on "shocking self-absorption." That phrase really turns up my blood pressure.
Further, the Chronicle doesn't know why these Galveston residents stayed. Had they interviewed even one resident when they published their editorial (notice the byline, showing a publication date of 7:40 a.m. on September 13)? They certainly don't quote any, other than Mayor Thomas.
Finally, the title of the editorial asks a simple and just question: "Why did thousands stay in Galveston?" And without a shred of evidence they criticize 20,000 people as being "shockingly self-absorbed"?
My main point is that we can all reserve judgment until later, when the facts are in. Is that the way journalism is still done?
Correction: Rita was in 2005, not 2004. Sorry.
Power Outage Reports
The Chronicle is currently showing 2.1 million.
Bloomberg has 4.5 million.
Not sure why the discrepancy. The Chronicle is citing a Centerpoint spokesperson; Bloomberg has Centerpoint as well. I assume they are comparing different geographic areas. The Chronicle story looks to be about 2 hours older than the Bloomberg story.
One million people fled.
Update: The Chronicle has updated their story and the breakdown is now clearer. Centerpoint has 2.1 million customers without power, which translates to 4.5 million people. 395,000 Entergy customers are without power, and 113,000 Texas-New Mexico Power customers are without power. The Chronicle report says 5 million total are without power, but carrying out their conversion from Centerpoint customers to people, it looks like it could be closer to 6 million.
Another interesting factoid in the story: Ike damaged 30 percent of Centerpoint's system (the story makes it sound like this is the minimum estimate of damage).
Bloomberg has 4.5 million.
Not sure why the discrepancy. The Chronicle is citing a Centerpoint spokesperson; Bloomberg has Centerpoint as well. I assume they are comparing different geographic areas. The Chronicle story looks to be about 2 hours older than the Bloomberg story.
One million people fled.
Update: The Chronicle has updated their story and the breakdown is now clearer. Centerpoint has 2.1 million customers without power, which translates to 4.5 million people. 395,000 Entergy customers are without power, and 113,000 Texas-New Mexico Power customers are without power. The Chronicle report says 5 million total are without power, but carrying out their conversion from Centerpoint customers to people, it looks like it could be closer to 6 million.
Another interesting factoid in the story: Ike damaged 30 percent of Centerpoint's system (the story makes it sound like this is the minimum estimate of damage).
10:00 a.m. Press Conference
"We have no evidence that the water supply is contaminated." -- Mayor Bill White
However, Mayor White is repeating that residents need to conserve water and drink bottled water.
A pump at one of the water stations has gone down.
Judge Emmett is asking that residents verify with local officials that it is safe to re-enter evacuation zones.
Going to the courtyard now to take some pictures.
However, Mayor White is repeating that residents need to conserve water and drink bottled water.
A pump at one of the water stations has gone down.
Judge Emmett is asking that residents verify with local officials that it is safe to re-enter evacuation zones.
Going to the courtyard now to take some pictures.
"Misery is the River of the World"
Forty percent of Galveston residents stayed in place. Many began calling for help. Media is being asked not to photograph "certain things."
The story--from last night, so it has some dated information--is here.
"Everybody row." -- Tom Waits
The story--from last night, so it has some dated information--is here.
"Everybody row." -- Tom Waits
All is Well
Just woke up. We slept through a good portion of Ike and are doing well.
Utilities:
The news right now is showing a construction crane in downtown still standing, though it is twisting in the wind (did Nixon get a hold of it?).
We still have fairly heavy rain and wind.
Once I've had a chance to look over the news, I'll post some more links.
Utilities:
- Power shut off a couple of times last night, but never for longer than a few seconds.
- Water pressure has dropped considerably here, but we can still turn on the tap and flush the toilets. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett on drinking water.
The news right now is showing a construction crane in downtown still standing, though it is twisting in the wind (did Nixon get a hold of it?).
We still have fairly heavy rain and wind.
Once I've had a chance to look over the news, I'll post some more links.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Weather No. 2
We're doing fine. The wind has started to pick up and lightning has started. No new pictures as it has gotten too dark. Buffalo Bayou looks like it is up from even a few hours ago and we haven't had any rain.
We can hear the creaking of the parking garage and in our building when gusts hit.
Right now we're enjoying what will likely be our last hot meal for a while. We chose...oatmeal. Needed to get our fiber in right before we can't flush the toilets anymore.
All things being equal, we're fine. We'll start filling the tub in a little while and may go to the game room when it comes in hard. Most posts will be through the Twitter page, but we'll try to synch that to the blogger page.
We can hear the creaking of the parking garage and in our building when gusts hit.
Right now we're enjoying what will likely be our last hot meal for a while. We chose...oatmeal. Needed to get our fiber in right before we can't flush the toilets anymore.
All things being equal, we're fine. We'll start filling the tub in a little while and may go to the game room when it comes in hard. Most posts will be through the Twitter page, but we'll try to synch that to the blogger page.
A Quick Thought
A few things I've noticed while out snapping pictures today:
- Police patrols (is that good or bad?)
- Humidity (then again, it is Houston)
- Quiet
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